Downtown Bellingham noise report not expected until late October

CAT SIEH

E-Mail

Text Size:

tool goes here

BELLINGHAM - The return of university students means a boom for downtown businesses, but residents are still stewing over another downtown byproduct: noise.

More than six months after venue owners and music advocates began calling for a compromise between downtown businesses and residents on nightlife-related noise, the city is still trying to determine how to strike a balance.

As Bellingham promotes residential growth downtown, residents who find themselves living above a nightclub or beside a bar say there must be a reasonable limit to noise if they're expected to get a decent night's sleep.

But many music and nightlife advocates say it isn't reasonable to complain about commercial noise in the Central Business District, claiming that police calls for complaints hamper businesses and stifle culture.

Bellingham's current noise ordinance leaves the decision to cite a business up to the responding police officer, who must determine whether the noise disturbs the peace or comfort of the caller.

Bellingham City Councilmen Terry Bornemann and Barry Buchanan began working with people on both sides of the issue earlier this year. Musician advocacy group B'DAMN - the better-known moniker of the Bellingham Downtown Alliance for Music and Nightlife - held a community meeting to discuss the issue in April. Soon afterward, the group sent a list of proposed ordinance changes to the City Council.

The council in early summer asked council policy analyst Mark Gardner to delve deeper into the issue.

Gardner, who is also working on reports surrounding the Lake Whatcom watershed and city transportation and height restriction issues, said a final noise report won't be ready until late October at the earliest.

Once the report is presented, the City Council will have the opportunity to suggest changes to the current noise ordinance, which would likely be presented in a public meeting. If approved, suggestions would then go before the Bellingham Planning Commission for review and public comment, then back to the council for a second review.

Initial talks on the issue unearthed deep divisions among business owners, nightlife lovers and residents, driving advocates into camps perceived by many as pro-music or anti-music. But those passionate about the issue say they're open to discussion and eager to reach a functioning compromise.

"B'DAMN is looking out for musicians' interests, but we're not against people who live downtown, who want it to be quiet," organizer Kat Bula said. "We want to reach a compromise and make sure everyone is included in that conversation."

Jeanne Dinehart is the resident services coordinator for the Washington Grocery Building, Kateri Court and Mt. Baker Apartments. Dinehart said residents are eager to work on a solution.

"(Residents) are not hoping that the music stops, but it would be nice if (venues) could turn it down after midnight," Dinehart said. "They like the music, but when it's so loud it's a lot for them."

Enter Keyword(s):	Enter a City:
Select a State:	Select a Category:

Friday, Sep. 05, 2008

Downtown Bellingham noise report not expected until late October

tool name